A city ad hoc committee Wednesday night agreed that it would be “appropriate” to explore allowing a second cable television franchise to serve Elgin residents, and it voted 5-0 to recommend the City Council consider the matter.
The council is expected to vote on the issue Jan. 8. City officials held the required public hearing to determine whether there was any need for a second franchise.
The committee also determined that a second franchise’s additional cables would not disrupt existing utilities’ rights of way.
Ameritech New Media Enterprises, a subsidiary of Ameritech, has expressed interest and is negotiating with city officials to operate the second cable TV franchise in Elgin. If the project is given the go-ahead, New Media would compete with the company now serving the community, Jones Intercable.
Eric Stuckey, Elgin’s building director and public information officer, said there have been no significant complaints about existing cable services, but city officials thought allowing a second franchise into town would be a good idea because it could create competition.